British design journalist Ellie Tennant attended Maison & Objet and reported back to Apartment Therapy on the Top 5 major trends she spotted at the show. Here, she follows up with a report on the ‘micro-trends’ that are also emerging, giving us another glimpse at what is in store from the design world in 2014...

CONJOINED SHAPES

The next phase in the ongoing geometry trend is for two different shapes to clash and, magically, unexpectedly, join together…

French studio Y’a Pas Le Feu Au Lac is showing a new trio of coffee tables – ‘Les Biches’ – all of which have mixed-media top surfaces featuring inter-meshed wood and composite material. On one table, a hexagon and a square overlap and appear to join together, on another a circle and a rectangle conjoin. The grid-like geometric elements give the impression of a scientific, mathematical blending process and also reminiscent of computer-generated imagery. Are the shapes clashing and joining, or multiplying and spreading…?

Meanwhile, Petite Friture is launching the new ‘Iso-a’ and ‘Iso-b’ side tables by FX Balléry, which slot together neatly, somehow combining a circle surface with a square surface. Again, a grid-like mesh enhances the overlap and exposes the process, which also has an ‘eclipse’ effect.

INTERSECTIONS

There is a huge trend across accessories and furniture for designs with a single slot element that allows a 3D intersection or support…

Designer Jean-Francois d’Or (Belgian Designer of the Year 2013) for Reflect Plus is showing his new ‘Elisabeth’ wall and base mirrors, which are designed to lean against a wall and are entirely supported by a slotted intersecting wooden shelf (wall version) or pedestal (base version).

It might look like a painting, but this flat, elasticated ‘Canvas’ sofa by Innermost (and YOY in Tokyo) has a secret magic trick: prop it against a wall and sit on the picture – the lycra-style fabric and a sturdy frame supports your weight allowing you to lounge effortlessly on a 2D surface.

Elsewhere on ENO Studio’s stand, Thomas Eurlings shows his new mirrors, with black or white ‘invisibility’ borders, giving the illusion that the mirror is part of the wall itself – the edges between object and background are blurred.

It might look like a flat panel, but the new space-saving ‘Flap’ shelf and ‘Hidden’ clothes hanger designs by Sculptures Jeux have hidden fold-down sections which become handy storage racks and hooks when needed.